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Is  Sebastopol 
Armageddon? 


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SHORT    SUMMAR 


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HISTORICAL  FACTS 


CALCULATED  TO  PROVE  THAT 


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THE  PLACE  SPOKEN  OF  IN  REV.  XVL  16, 


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AN  INQUIEER  AFTEB  TRUTH. 


■'  Watch  ye,  therefore,  and  pray  always,  that  ye  may  be  accounted  worthy  to  escape  all 
these  things  that  shall  come  to  pass,  and  to  stand  before  the  Son  of  man." 


PUBLISHED  BY  C.  MYERS,  REAR  OP  50  NORTH  SIXTH  ST. 

AND  SOLD  BY 

C.  J.  PRICE  &  CO.,  No.  4  E(ART'S  BUILDING,  SIXTH  ST.  ABOVE  CHESTNUT; 

SMITH  &  ENGLISH,  36  NORTH  SIXTH  STREET; 

JOS.  M.  WILSON,  S.  W.  CORNER  NINTH  AND  ARCH  STREETS. 

NEW  YORK :  JOHN  MOFFETT,  82  NASSAU  STREET. 

1855. 


L/ 


TO  THE  CIimSTIAN  READER. 


The  compiler  of  the  following  pages  has  no  apology  to  offer 
for  introducing  to  your  notice  the  important  question  herein 
propounded, — Is  Sebastopol,  the  place  around  which  the  choicest 
armies  of  the  earth  are  now  gathered  to  battle,  the  place  called 
in  the  Hebrew  tongue  Armageddon?  As  he  believes  that 
the  evidence  collected  and  presented  in  the  following  pages 
is  amply  sufficient  to  convince  the  child  of  God,  who  is  anxious 
to  know  the  truth  on  this  important  question,  that  God  has 
given  his  word  to  be  understood,  and  that  prophecy  is  indeed  a 
light  shining  in  a  dark  place,  unto  which  we  do  well  that  we 
take  heed,  until  the  day  dawn,  and  Jesus,  who  is  the  day 
star,  shall  arise.  If  the  evidence  here  presented  is  the 
truth,  then,  indeed,  those  (few  and  despised  though  they  be) 
who  are  obeying  the  solemn  admonition,  ^'Behold  I  come 
as  a  thief;  blessed  is  he  that  toatcheth,  and  keepeth  his  gar- 
ments," have  great  reason  to  lift  up  their  heads  and  rejoice, 
knowing  certainly  that  their  redemption  is  very  nigh,  notwith- 
standing the  scoffs  and  taunting  derision  of  a  world  hastening 
on  to  the  fearful  judgments  which  will  soon  be  introduced,  by 
the  pouring  out  of  the  seventh  vial  into  the  air;  and  what  is 
still  more  fearful,  the  cold  apathy  of  a  formal,  sleeping  Church, 
who,  though  preaching  Christ,  humbled  and  crucified,  are  still 
despising  and  decrying  the  lofty  and  equally  important  subject 
of  Christ  glorified,  and  of  man  reigning  with  him  in  that  king- 
dom which  he  has  purchased  by  his  obedience  unto  death,  the 
curse  of  which  (the  thorn)  he  bore  away  triumphantly  on  his 
brow,  when  he  hung  upon  the  cross,  and  exclaimed,  ^'It  is 
finished."  For  this  world,  as  well  as  man,  was  the  subject  of 
redemption;  and  he  must  reign,  not  only  on  the  throne  of  his 
father  David — which  belongs  to  him  as  being  the  son  of  David — ■ 
but  over  the  whole  world,  the  dominion  of  which  man  lost  by 
1 


2  IS  SBBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON  ? 

his  transgression,  but  which  Christ  has  purchased  back  by  his 
obedience. 

In  the  16th  chapter  of  Revelation,  the  gathering  to  Arma- 
geddon is  given  as  the  great  foreranuing  sign  of  a  total  change 
in  the  character  of  God's  dispensations.  The  approach  of  the 
Lord  as  a  thief ,  at  this  particular  time,  is  full  of 'sweet  en- 
couragement, and  well  calculated  to  raise  the  hopes  of  those 
who  are  waiting  for  the  return  of  their  Lord,  inasmuch  as  he 
proclaims  them  blessed  who  are  at  this  time  found  watching  and 
keeping  their  garments. 

The  only  object  of  a  thief  is  to  come  noiselessly  and  unex- 
pectedly to  take  away  the  treasure.  The  noise  is  all  made  upon 
the  discovery  that  the  treasure  is  gone.  So  the  coming  of  the 
Lord,  as  a  thief,  here  indicates,  not  his  coming  as  described  by 
Zechariah,  attended  by  all  his  saints,  nor  that  by  John,  when 
every  eye  shall  see  him,  nor  yet  by  the  Evangelist,  when  all  the 
tribes  of  the  earth  shall  mourn,  when  he  shall  come  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and  great  glory;  hut  his  coming 
into  the  air,  to  take  his  bride,  his  church,  which  he  loved  so 
well  as  to  give  himself  for  it,  to  steal  away  his  treasure,  and 
thus  preserve  it  in  safety,  until  his  judgments  shall  be  poured 
out,  after  which  they  shall  descend  with  him.  It  is  his  call, — 
^'  Como,  my  people,  enter  thou  into  thy  chambers,  and  shut  thy 
doors  about  thee :  hide  thyself  as  it  were  for  a  little  moment, 
until  the  indignation  be  overpast.  For,  behold,  the  Lord  cometh 
out  of  his  place  to  punish  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  for  their 
iniquity.''  It  is  his  coming  to  fulfil  his  gracious  promise  to 
those  who,  though  having  but  a  little  strength,  have  kept  his 
word,  and  have  not  denied  his  name,  (indicated  by  his  title 
'*he  that  hath  the  key  of  David;")  but,  having  kept  the  patient 
waiting  for  his  coming,  have  the  promise,  "I  also  will  keep 
thee  from  (or  out  of)  the  hour  of  temptation,  which  shall  come 
upon  all  the  world,  to  try  them  that  dwell  upon  the  whole 
habitable  globe;"  it  is  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise  implied  in 
the  command,  "Watch  ye,  therefore,  and  pray  always,  that  ye 
may  be  accounted  worthy  to  escape  all  these  things  that  shall 
come  to  pass,  and  to  stand  before  the  Son  of  man."  And  bis 
coming  thus  to  deliver  those  who  have  believed  and  obeyed  His 
Word,  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  all  his  former  acts  of  judg- 
ment and  mercy.  He  delivered  Noah  before  his  judgments 
descended  upon  a  world  who,  though  warned,  refused  to  listen, 
because  he  alone  believed  the  word  of  God.  He  delivered  Lot, 
"a  just  man,  vexed  with  the  filthy  conversation  of  the  wicked, 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON  ?  3 

before  he  destroyed  Sodom,  because  he  alone  believed  the  word 
of  the  Lord;'^  yea,  the  angel  had  to  hasten  his  departure,  say- 
ing, "  Haste  thee,  escape  thither,  (to  a  place  of  safety ;)  for  I 
cannot  do  anything  until  thou  be  come  thither."  Thus  did  he 
honour  the  faith  of  these  his  servants.  And  did  he  not  deliver 
every  one  who,  believing  and  obeying  the  instructions  of  Jesus, 
at  a  certain  signal  given,  left  Jerusalem  and  escaped  to  the 
mountains,  so  that,  in  that  dreadful  siege,  in  which  eleven  hun- 
dred thousand  persons  perished,  not  a  single  Christian  lost  his 
life?  Even  thus  shall  it  be  at  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man; 
''  For  unto  them  that  look  for  him,  shall  he  appear  the  second 
time,  without  a  sin-offering,  unto  salvation/'  Do  persons  look 
for  that  they  do  not  expect?  Do  persons  watch  for  the  thief 
unless  they  have  discovered  some  evidence  of  his  intention  to 
visit  them  at  a  particidar  time  ?  How  can  it  be  said  that  we 
are  icatching  for  that  we  do  not  expect?  How  can  we  keep 
watch  without  a  light?  Where  can  we  obtain  any  light  on  this 
all-important  subject,  unless  in  that  word  which  is  a  light  to  the 
weary  pilgrim's  path,  and  a  lamp  unto  his  feet — ^'the  sure  word 
of  prophecy?'' 

Is  it  not,  then,  time  that  the  church  understood  her  position 
in  the  world's  history,  if  God  has  furnished  her  with  a  light  to 
illuminate  her  pathway,  at  this  dark  moment,  when  "men's 
hearts  are  failing  them  for  fear,  and  for  looking  after  those 
things  which  are  coming  on  the  earth?"  and  the  Scriptures  can- 
not be  broken?  "Surely  the  Lord  God  will  do  nothing;  but  he 
revealeth  his  secret  to  his  servants  the  prophets."  She  may 
know  her  present  position  if  she  will  "take  heed  to  that  sure 
word  of  prophecy." 

It  is  a  point  conceded  by  nearly  all  prophetic  students,  that 
we  have  been  living  in  the  chronological  period,  symbolized  by 
the  pouring  out  of  the  sixth  vial,  since  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Greek  revolution,  in  1820,  as  it  is  under  this  vial  that  the 
Turkish  Empire  is  dismembered  and  broken  up,  denoted  by 
the  drying  up  of  the  waters  of  the  great  river  Euphrates.  If 
this  be  so,  then  it  is  now  time  that  we  understood  where  Arma- 
geddon is — the  place  to  which  the  kings  of  the  earth  are  to  be 
gathered;  and  this  we  may  do,  if  we  only  obey  God  and  simply 
believe  his  word.  One  of  the  peculiar  offices  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
whose  presence  is  to  abide  with  the  church  during  the  absence 
and  until  the  return  of  her  Lord  is,  "He  shall  guide  you 
into  ALL  TRUTH,  and  he  shall  show  you  things  to  come." 
Now,  we  have  received,  not  the  spirit  of  the  world,  but  the  spirit 


4  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

■which  is  of  God;  that  we  might  know  the  things  that  are  freely 
given  to  us  of  God,  which  things  also  we  speak,  not  in  the  words 
which  man's  wisdom  teacheth,  but  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teach- 
eth;  comparing  spiritual  things  "v^ith  spiritual."  Thus  let  the 
teachings  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  one  portion  of  the  word  of  God, 
interpret  his  teachings  in  another;  only  let  us  adopt  this  rule  in 
the  case  before  us,  and  the  understanding  of  this  important,  and 
by  many  considered  difficult,  passage  will  become  plain  and  easy. 
It  is  a  fact,  known  and  universally  acknowledged,  that  John 
wrote  in  the  Greek  tongue,  the  Apocalypse,  or  the  Revelation 
of  Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave  unto  him,  (consider  this  solemn 
word,  all  ye  who  say  that  prophecy  is  not  designed  to  be  under- 
stood,)   TO    snow   UNTO   HIS    SERVANTS    THINGS   WHICn    MUST 

SHORTLY  COME  TO  PASS,  and  only  in  a  very  few  instances,  did 
the  Holy  Ghost  lead  him  to  depart  from  it  to  introduce  a  Hebrew 
word.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  instances  is  found  in  the 
9th  chapter,  at  the  11th  verse:  "And  they  had  a  king  over  them, 
which  is  the  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit,  whose  name  in  the 
Hebrew  tongue  is  Abaddon,  but  in  the  Greek  tongue  hath 
his  name  Apollyon  :"  in  the  English  tongue  A  Destroyer, 
(see  margin.)  Now,  this  is  a  parallel  passage  with  Rev.  xvi. 
12th  to  IGth  verses.  In  the  first  place,  the  events  in  the  9th 
chapter  relate  to  the  Turkish  Empire  in  a  most  striking  manner. 
"The  locusts  were  like  unto  horses  prepared  unto  battle :  on  their 
heads  were  as  it  were  crowns  like  gold,  and  their  faces  were  as 
the  faces  of  men.  And  they  had  hair  as  the  hair  of  women,  and 
their  teeth  were  as  the  teeth  of  lions."  The  events  to  take  place 
under  the  pouring  out  of  the  sixth  vial,  in  the  16th  chapter,  re- 
late also  to  the  Turkish  empire.  It  is  said  in  the  9th  chapter, 
"They  had  a  king  over  them,  the  angel  of  tile  bottomless  pit." 
Who  is  this  king  but  the  dragon,  that  old  serpent  the  devil, 
spoken  of  in  the  16th  chapter  as  the  great  instigator  in  the 
gathering  of  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and  of  the  whole  world,  to 
the  battle  of  the  great  day  of  God  Almighty,  whose  name  is 
given  in  the  9th  chapter,  in  both  the  Hebrew  and  Greek  tongue. 
It  might  very  justly  be  asked,  what  necessity  was  there  here  for 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  lead  John  to  depart  from  the  Greek  to  intro- 
duce a  Hebrew  word,  and  then  immediately  after  to  translate  it  into 
the  Greek  tongue  himself.  The  answer,  and  the  only  answer  that 
can  reasonably  be  given,  is,  he  introduces  this  illustration  here  in 
order  that  we  may  understand  the  mind  or  teachings  of  the 
Spirit,  should  he,  in  the  same  manner,  again  introduce  a  Hebrew 
name,  which  we  find  him  doing  in  Rev.  xvi.  16.     Thus,  by  com* 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  5 

paring  spiritual  things  with  spiritual,  we  may  understand  the 
mind  of  the  Spirit,  in  these  two  remarkable  passages,  both  re- 
lating to  the  same  power — the  Turkish  empire.  We  thus  see 
the  parallel  is  complete.  The  king,  whose  name  in  the  Hebrew 
is  Abaddon,  in  the  Greek  Apollyon,  in  the  English  A  De- 
stroyer, is  the  same  dragon  whose  agents  (the  three  unclean 
spirits  like  frogs)  gather  the  kings  of  earth,  and  of  the  whole 
world,  unto  the  place  called  in  the  Hebrew  Armageddon,  in 
the  Greek  Sebastopol,  in  the  English  The  Illustrious  City. 
Let  the  following  extracts  be  weighed  in  the  balance  of  the 
sanctuary,  and  may  the  Lord  give  us  a  correct  understanding  in 
all  things. 

The  following  is  copied  from  "The  Christian  Annotator" 
of  December  23,  1854 — Revelation  xvi.  16: — The  compound 
Greek  word  Sebastopol  is  a  close  equivalent  for  the  compound 
Hebrew  word  Armageddon — both  mean  "  The  August  City." 
Sebastos,  (Greek,)  venerable  or  august;  Polis,  a  city.  Hebrew, 
Ar,  a  city;  mag  ad  or  meged,  august :  (the  final  on  being  a  for- 
mative, as  in  the  name  of  the  Jewish  town  Megiddon.)  The 
precise  word  "august"  is  not  employed  in  our  authorized  trans- 
lation of  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  but  the  following  meanings 
abridged  from  that  most  valuable  lexicon,  Bagster's  Tregelles' 
Gesenius,  show  that  the  rendering  above.mentioned  is  closely 
appropriate.  "  Hebrew,  Magad,  to  excel  in  honour,  in  glory. 
Hebrew,  Nagid,  a  prince;  Meged,  something  very  precious  or 
noble."     The  coincidence  is  given  for  whatever  it  may  be  worth. 

Sebastopol  may  not  be  the  prophetic  Armageddon  ;  but 
we  live  in  extraordinary  times,  of  which,  perhaps,  1848  was  the 
type  and  forerunner. 

The  great  prophetic  periods  appear  to  have  nearly  run  out 
their  determined  durations;  the  Turkish  empire  is  in  that  state 
of  exhaustion  which  produces  the  disposition  to  concede;  the 
blood  and  treasure  of  England  profusely  poured  out,  give  her 
a  powerful  claim  to  be  heard ;  the  Jews  are  actually  commencing 
their  preparatory  settlements  in  Palestine;  and  the  conces- 
sion to  them  of  privileges  and  protection,  by  placing  the  bene- 
volent Abdul  Medjid  under  the  shield  of  "blessed  is  he  that 
blesseth  thee,"  might  be  "a  lengthening  of  his  tranquillity." 
In  and  around  Sebastopol  are  even  now  collected  the  powers 
which  rule  over  vast  portions  of  the  globe ;  the  contest  is  carried 
on,  both  by  supreme  directors  and  subordinate  executors,  with  a 
cool  desperation  worthy  of  the  prophetic  struggle ;  a  blindness, 
which  may  well  be  more  than  human  infirmity,  has  alternately 


G  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

placed  the  bolligerents  in  circumstances  of  appalling  danger, 
which  ordinary  political  and  military  skill  might  have  foreseen 
and  avoided;  and  the  whole  thing  threatens  to  become  a  tornado 
of  ''hail  and  fire  mingled  with  blood/'  which  may  enclose  the 
civilized  world  in  its  vortex. 

These  are  ''  signs  of  the  times ''  which,  at  least,  demand 
watchful  attention.  ''Be  wise  now,  therefore,  0  ye  kings.'' 
"  Behold  I  come  as  a  thief."  Centurion. 

SEBASTOPOL  AND  ARMAGEDDON. 

If,  instead  of  searching  out  and  quoting  from  old  commenta- 
tors, M.  S.  ^\.  had  placed  in  juxtaposition  the  marvellously  pure 
Hebrew  word  of  God  and  our  excellent  English  version  of  it, 
he  would  have  seen  that  the  Hebrew  syllable,  nj.'  is  frequently 
rendered  into  English  by  the  letters  or,  which  letters  are  also  in 
Rev.  xvi.  16,  the  English  rendering  of  the  first  sellable  of  the 
Greek  word  Ap;ua7f(^wr'. 

This  as  to  the  Hebrew  occurs  in  the  proper  names  Arbathite, 
Arad,  Aroer,  Arkite,  and  Ar  Moab.  The  last  is  a  most  con- 
clusive instance;  for  as  ij?,  Ar  Moah  means  "the  city  of  Moab," 
so  with  perfect  propriety  Armageddon  may  be  understood  to  mean 
^•the  city  of  Magedo,"  or  the  city  of  "preciousness,"  "excel- 
lence," "nobleness,"  or  "princeliness,"  or,  by  fair  and  sober 
equivalent,  "the  august  city,"  ^^jSacrroj  jtous,  or  Sebastopol. 

Vitringa,  Grotius,  and  Dr.  Cressener,  had  a  full  right  to  choose 
-in,  ha?',  a  mountain,  as  the  most  likely  rendering  in  their  days 
for  the  first  syllable  of  Armageddon;  but  their  selection  does  not 
in  anywise  interfere  with  our  privilege  of  looking  with  awe  and 
intense  interest  for  its  very  possible  fulfilment  by  the  Hebrew 
word  ij;,  ar. 

This  privilege  has  become  so  much  the  more  an  object  to  be 
zealously  maintained  by  the  rule  which  M.  S.  M.  quotes  from 
Mede,  that  Armageddon  is  "one  of  the  secrets  of  God  not  to  be 
defined  by  us  until  the  event  shall  make  it  known."  The  mo- 
mentous question  is,  Are  the  events  which  are  occurring  in  im- 
mediate connexion  with  Sebastopol  so  coincident  with  those  that 
are  described  in  the  Apocal3'pse  in  connexion  with  Armageddon 
as  to  constitute  "a  still  small  voice"  from  God  himself,  declaring 
this  secret  to  those  "who  have  ears  to  hear,"  that  that  day  may 
not  come  upon  them  "as  a  thief?" 

That  is  the  question; — in  regard  to  the  mere  verbal  propriety 
of  translating  the  compound  Hebrew  word  Armageddon  by  the 
compound  Greek  word  Sebastopol  there  is  none. 

5th  February,  1855.  Centurion. 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON  ?  7 

ENGLAND  AND  ARMAGEDDON. — ISAIAH  XVIII. 

Knowing,  as  I  most  truly  do,  that  nothing  is  of  so  great  im- 
portance as  distinct,  complete,  and  sober  truth,  I  am  much  gra- 
tified by  the  very  valuable  amendment  which  Mr.  H.  E.  Brooke 
has  added  to  my  remarks  on  Sebastopol  and  Armageddon,  and 
offer  my  hearty  assent  to  it. 

Momentous  as  is  the  subject,  if  it  be  truth  and  reality,  I  would 
further  endeavour  to  draw  attention  to  that  which  is  strongly 
appearing  to  me  to  be  a  parallel  passage  of  divine  writ,  which 
embraces  even  the  modern  especial  sanctuary  of  God's  word — 
the  British  Empire. 

In  Rev.  xvi.  the  gathering  to  Armageddon  is  given  as  the  great 
forerunning  sign  of  a  total  change  in  the  character  of  God's  dis- 
pensations. Before  it,  he  is  still  and  imperceptible  as  an  ap- 
proaching thief;  but  at,  and  after  it.  His  actual  presence  is  dis- 
tinctly manifested  by  (at  least)  extraordinary  and  fearful  judg- 
ments. Armageddon,  moreover,  is  not  the  full  end  of  the  final 
judgment  of  nations,  but  the  beginning  of  that  end,  and  it  is  as- 
sociated with  preparation  for  ''the  coming  of  the  kings  who  are 
from  the  sun-rising"  (whom  I  consider  to  be  a  portion  of  na- 
tional Israel,)  and  with  a  most  portentous  divine  warning. 

Just  such  another  passage  is  Isaiah  xviii.  3 — 7.  In  verse  4, 
the  Lord  declares  to  the  prophet  His  purpose  of  retiring  into 
deep  stillness  in  reference  to  human  affairs;  in  appearance  leaving 
the  politics  of  this  world  as  if  there  were  no  God  to  observe  and 
control  them.  Verses  5  and  6  describe  an  awful  change, — He 
suddenly  arises  for  the  commencement  of  manifested  judgment. 
The  young  budding  "sprigs"  of  the  vine  of  the  earth  (not  the 
fully  "  ripe  "  vintage  of  Joel  iii.  13)  are  cut  off  and  "  left  for  all 
the  fowls  of  the  mountains  to  summer  upon  them,  and  for  all  the 
beasts  of  the  earth  to  winter  upon  them." 

The  judgment  seems  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  return  of  a 
portion  of  the  Jewish  people  to  their  own  land;  for  (ver.  7)  "In 
that  time  shall  the  present  be  brought  to  the  Lord  of  hosts  of  a 

people  scattered  and  peeled whose  land  the  rivere  have 

spoiled,  to  the  place  of  the  name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  Mount 
Zion." 

The  event,  like  that  of  Armageddon,  is  given  as  a  most  por- 
tentous warning, — "All  ye  inhabitants  of  the  world  (verse  3,) 
and  dwellers  on  the  earth,  See  ye,  when  He  lifteth  up  an  ensign 
on  the  mountains;  and  when  He  bloweth  a  trumpet,  Hear  ye." 

Centurion. 


&  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

CRIMEA. — JEHOSHAPHAT. — THE  KARAITES. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  mysterious  "Valley  of  Jehosha- 
phat?" 

It  can  only  be  answered,  that  the  existence  of  that  valley,  so 
remarkably  connected  with  the  Jews  as  being  the  place  in  which 
they  have  buried  their  dead  for  centuries  past,  and  around  which 
they  still  live  in  somewhat  of  their  ancient  purity  and  freedom 
from  traditional  articles  of  faith,  seems  only  to  be  an  additional 
argument  in  favour  of  the  hypothesis  that  Sebastopol  is  the  Ar- 
mageddon spoken  of  by  the  Prophet  Joel,  and  by  the  Apostle 
John  in  the  Apocalypse;  the  former  referring  to  it  as  the  battle 
in  the  Valley  of  Decision,  or  Jehoshaphat,  and  the  latter  as  a 
place  called  in  the  Hebrew  Armageddon,  in  the  Greek  Sebastopol. 

The  fact  that  Baktchi-Serai,  near  which  is  the  valley  of  Je- 
hoshaphat, has  been  made  the  headquarters  of  the  Russian  army, 
and  lying  as  it  does  on  the  march  between  Simpheropol  and  Se- 
bastopol, renders  it  probable  a  battle  will  be  fought  there,  as  a 
despatch  from  our  camp  lately  stated  that  at  a  council  of  war  it 
was  decided  first  to  attack  the  Russians  without,  and  then  to  in- 
vest Sebastopol.  For  more  particulars  I  would  refer  to  a  very 
interesting  pamphlet  which  has  just  come  out,  under  the  title  of 
"Is  Sebastopol  Armageddon?" 

With  reference  to  the  Karaite  Jews,  it  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  Tchufut-Kali,  an  ancient  fortress,  is  now  a  place  of  refuge 
for  upwards  of  1 200  Jews.  Oliphant,  in  his  work  lately  published, 
states  that  the  whole  population  of  this  town  consists  of  Jews  of 
the  sect  of  Karai.  "The  character  of  the  Karaites  is  very  dif- 
ferent from  that  of  their  brethren  in  other  countries;  they  live 
without  reproach,  their  honesty  is  proverbial  in  the  Crimea,  and 
the  word  of  a  Karaite  is  said  to  be  as  good  as  another  man's 
bond.  They  still  adhere  to  the  law  of  Moses;  they  reject  all 
Rabbinical  doctrine,  and  all  interpolations  of  Scriptural  texts. 

Walter  Hardie. 

armageddon  and  the  valley  of  jehoshaphat. 

Important  notices  of  these  localities  are,  it  is  well  known,  con- 
tained in  the  prophetic  pages;  but,  until  within  the  last  few 
months,  no  expounder  of  prophecy,  we  believe,  ever  dreamt  of 
finding  them  in  the  Crimea. 

This  name  agrees  very  well  with  Sebastopolis.  Armageddon 
in  Hebrew;  Sebastopolis  in  Greek;  Augusta  Civitas  in  Latin; 
August  City  in  English. 

St.  John  tells  us  that  the  place  intended  is  "m  the  Ilehrew 
tongue/'  Armageddon.     fThe  words  "in  the  Hebrew  tongue" 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  9 

imply  that  the  word  is  either  a  translation  or  a  descr{j)fion ;  in 
other  words,  that  it  is  not  the  identical  name  of  the  place  in- 
tended. There  is  one  city,  and  only  one  city,  in  the  world  whose 
name  is  actually  Armageddon. — From  the  Clmrch  Witness. 

TO  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE  RECORD. 

''Sir: — Not  observing  any  reply  in  your  last  to  a  short  but 
interesting  question,  put  in  your  preceding  paper^  relative  to  the 
meaning  of  the  term  'Armageddon,'  I  venture  to  suppose  that 
your  correspondent  has  not  consulted  the  Horge  Apocalypticse 
of  the  Rev.  E.  B.  Elliot,  vol.  iv.  2d  edition,  1845,  pp.  83-86, 
where  he  favours  its  derivation  from  ^ Ar^  a  mountain,  and 
*•  Megeddy  precious,  glorious,  &c.,  making  it  to  mean,  i.  e.y 
'glorious  mountain.'  Both  expressions  are  supposed  by  Mr.  E. 
to  be  hieroglyphical,  and  having  reference  to  these  last  times. 

"The  term,  however,  'Armageddon'  occurring  in  the  Book  of 
Revelation,  has  an  express  notification  (Rev.  xvi.  16,)  attached 
to  it,  as  a  navie,  'a  place  called  in  the  Hehreio  tongue  Arma- 
geddon,' as  if  in  another  tongue  it  were  a  place  called  by 
another  name.  Perhaps  then  your  correspondent,  if  not  pre- 
possessed already  by  Mr.  Elliot's  interpretation,  may  be  in- 
terested in  hearing  of  another  interpretation,  which  derives  the 
syllable  from  another  Hebrew  root,  viz.,  city,  similarly  pro- 
nounced {Ar)  with  the  vowel  point  (as  in  the  other  case;)  con- 
sequently making  the  place  to  mean  glorious,  or  august  city. 
Next  then  to  the  Hebrew  tongue,  we  might  certainly  take  the 
Greek  tongue  as  the  language  of  the  New  Testament;  and  here 
the  literal  rendering  of  the  English  words  'august  city,'  into 
Greek,  would  be,  in  English  characters,  Sebastopolis;  so,  by 
usage  in  construction,  Sebastopol;  the  name,  no  doubt,  given  to 
the  city  on  which  the  attention  of  Europe  is  now  riveted,  origi- 
nally in  connection  with  the  Roman,  and  then  Byzantine  dignity 
of  the  title  of  Augustus.  Conclusions  from  so  singular  a  coin- 
cidence your  correspondent  will  be  able  to  draw  for  himself  with 
more  satisfaction  than  any  suggested  by 

"A  Christian  Watchman." 

The  following  article  is  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Nihill,  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  : — 

IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

THE  PLACE  SPOKEN  OF  IN  REV.  XVT.  IG. 

This  question  has  lately  been  raised.  On  prophecy  unful- 
filled, or   only   in  course  of  fulfilment,  it  becomes  us  to  pro- 


10  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

pound  our  opinions  with  diffidence;  but  assuredly  this  does  not 
preclude  the  exercise  of  humble  and  devout  inquiry.  In  this 
view,  permit  me  to  throw  out  for  consideration  the  following 
hints. 

Commentators,  writing  before  the  present  war,  have,  I  believe, 
generally  drawn  their  explanation  of  the  word  "Armageddon" 
from  its  first  syllable  Ar,  signifying  a  mountain ;  but  this  has 
thrown  no  real  light  upon  the  text.  There  is  another  Hebrew 
word  having  the  same  sound  (^^,)  though  formed  from  a  dif- 
ferent letter.  This  Ar  signifies  a  city.  Joining  to  it  the  word 
Mageddon,  which  in  Hebrew  signifies  pre-eminent,  or  illustrious, 
we  get  Armageddon — the  illustrious  city.  Now,  Sebastopol  is 
compounded  of  two  Greek  words,  which  together  signify  the 
same  thing — the  august  or  illustrious  city.  This,  as  far  as  I 
know,  is,  in  substance,  the  discovery  suggested  by  the  present 
extraordinary  siege.  The  coincidence  is  at  least  curious;  but 
the  point  admits  of  further  elucidation. 

St.  John  wrote  in  Greek,  and,  if  he  had  not  in  the  passage 
under  consideration  forsaken  the  Greek  for  the  Hebrew,  that 
passage  would  have  run  thus  in  our  English  translation:  "And 
lie  gathered  them  together  into  a  place  called  in  the  Greek 
tongue  Sebastopol."  But  this  would  have  been  too  plain  for 
prophecy,  which  employs  enigmatical  devices  for  the  purpose  of 
presenting  truth,  as  it  were  looming  in  a  mist,  to  the  eye  of 
laith,  while  it  conceals  the  precise  event  fore-shadowed  from  cer- 
tain knowledge  until  the  proper  period  for  its  development.  In 
this  instance  the  enigma  consists  in  substituting  the  Hebrew 
word  Armageddon  for  the  plain  name  of  the  place  SchastopoL 
It  deserves  remark,  that  had  St.  John  used  the  Greek  word 
Sebastopol,  this  too  might  have  equally  hidden  his  meaning  up 
to  the  time  when  the  Russians  gained  fraudulent  possession  of 
the  Crimea,  but  no  longer.  The  Tartar  name  of  the  place  was 
Aktiar.  Dr.  Clark  in  his  travels,  published  in  1810,  alluding 
to  this  change  in  the  designation  of  the  city,  says  :  "  We  reached 
the  great  bay  of  Aktiar,  upon  which  place  the  Russians  in  the 
time  of  Catherine  II.  bestowed  the  fantastic  name  of  Sebastopol." 
At  that  time  this  new  name  was  fantastic ;  but  it  may  enhance 
our  reverence  for  divine  inspiration  to  reflect  that  not  only  was 
it  foreseen  that  the  place  of  gathering  should  ages  after  be  called 
in  human  pride  by  a  fantastic  name,  but  that  it  should,  in  a 
short  period,  by  the  course  of  providence,  vindicate  its  title 
to  be  considered  really  illustrious.  For,  what  can  be  better  en- 
titled to  such  a  term  than  that  very  place  on  which  the  eyes  of 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  11 

the  world  are  now  fixed? — the  two  greatest  nations  of  Europe 
putting  forth,  and  as  yet  vainly,  their  mighty  resources  to  take 
it,  and  the  immense  empire  of  Russia  so  obstinately  and  beyond 
all  calculation  defending  it.  It  is  truly  the  illustrious  city — the 
Sebastopol,  the  Armageddon,  call  it  which  we  will. 

Learned  interpreters  of  prophecy  (Mr.  Elliot,  for  instance) 
some  years  ago  brought  down,  from  totally  independent  con- 
siderations, our  present  chronological  position  to  the  outpouring 
of  the  sixth  vial.  Under  that  vial  the  battle  of  Armageddon 
takes  place;  so  that  we  ought  now  to  be  looking  out  for  Ar- 
mageddon;  and  if  we  ask  where  it  is,  Sebastopol  marvellously 
answers  the  question. 

It  is  very  curious  that  there  is  a  valley  in  the  Crimea,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Sebastopol,  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  The  prophet  Joel,  speaking  of  the  re- 
storation of  the  Jews — an  event  which  the  Christian  world  now 
looks  for  as  near — describes  the  gathering  of  nations  to  the 
valley  of  Jehoshaphat.  The  whole  passage  (Joel  iii.)  is  worthy 
of  deep  consideration  and  of  close  comparison  with  other 
Scriptures.  Your  readers  can  refer  to  it ;  and  some  of  them 
may  be  surprised  to  learn  that  Dr.  Clarke  describes  a  colony  of 
the  Karaite  Jews  in  that  part  of  the  Crimea,  about  the  valley  of 
Jehoshaphat,  as  remarkable  for  their  purity,  integrity,  and  truth. 
Connect  this  with  the  prophetic  fact  that  the  Lord  is  to  vindicate 
his  people  the  Jews  at  the  Valley  of  Jehoshaphat. 

In  Revelation  xvi.  the  gathering  to  Armageddon  is  to  be  by 
three  spirits  like  frogs,  coming  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  dragon, 
the  beast,  and  the  false  prophet.  It  would  corroborate  the 
identity  of  Sebastopol  and  Armageddon  if  the  present  gather- 
ing round  Sebastopol  can  be  traced  to  the  sort  of  instigation  thus 
intimated.  The  dragon  is  unquestionably,  as  explained  in  the 
Apocalypse,  '' that  old  serpent  the  devil."  Something  charac- 
teristic of  Satan  we  ought  therefore  to  find  in  one  of  the  chief 
actors  in  the  contest.*  ''How  art  thou  fallen  from  heaven,  O 
Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning."     (Is.  xiv.  12.)     Thus  speaks  the 

*  Now  this  is  the  precise  character  of  him  who  is  now  acknowledged 
by  the  whole  world  to  be  the  chief  actor  in  this  contest,  the  Emperor 
of  the  French,  Napoleon  the  III.  It  was  his  cunning  subtlety,  that 
planned  the  war,  and  it  is  by  his  iron  will  it  is  still  carried  on — and  is 
it  not  a  little  remarkable  that  the  ancient  armorial  bearings  of  the 
Franks,  or  French,  were  three  frogs  ?  The  armorial  shield  of  Clovis,  the 
first  Christian  king  of  France,  contained  three  fleur  de  lis,  and  three 
frogs. 


12  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON  ? 

propbet  in  allusion  to  the  King  of  Babylon,  wbosG  pride  was 
instigated  by  Satan.  Does  not  this  remind  us  of  the  proud, 
ambitious  Czar,  and  of  his  protectorate  of  the  idolatrous  Greek 
church?  It  is  notorious  that  by  cognate  motives  the  policy  of 
Kussia  has  for  ages  been  animated  to  unrighteous  aggrandize- 
ment, and  that  the  same  lust  of  territorial  extension  on  the  part 
of  Nicholas,  coupled  with  his  ambition  to  overrule  the  Sultan 
in  the  government  of  his  Greek  subjects,  as  though  he  would 
lift  up  himself  to  a  God-like  elevation  in  the  world,  has  issued  in 
the  present  war.  The  frog  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  dragon  has 
undoubtedly  whispered  into  the  ear  of  the  Autocrat  just  as  Mil- 
ton describes  Satan  in  a  similar  form  whispering  in  the  ear  of 
Eve. 

The  beast  leads  our  thoughts  to  Popery.  The  dragon  which 
swayed  the  old  Pagan  Roman  empire  gave  his  seat  (Rome)  to 
the  beast.  See  Rev.  xiii.  for  this  and  other  evidences  that  the 
beast  images  Popery.  The  frog  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  beast 
may,  without  difficulty,  be  interpreted  of  that  inspiration  which 
has  gathered  France  into  the  struggle.  The  quarrel  actually 
began  in  a  dispute  between  the  Latin  and  Greek  pilgrims  for 
certain  advantages  in  their  superstitious  worship  at  the  holy 
places  in  Palestine.  France,  long  since  regarded  as  the  protect- 
ing power  of  the  Latin  or  Popish  pilgrims,  has  certainly  main- 
tained that  character  in  the  diplomacy  connected  with  the  pre- 
sent contest.  She  had  obtained  distinct  advantages  for  those 
Roman  or  Popish  pilgrims,  by  a  firman  from  the  Porte.  This 
roused  the  jealousy  of  Russia,  the  protector  of  the  Greek  pil- 
grims, and,  according  to  formal  public  documents,  the  advance- 
ment of  rival  claims  by  the  Czar  in  respect  to  the  holy  places 
— Greek  superstition  combating  with  Latin — has  been  the  proxi- 
mate cause  of  the  war.  France  then  was  prompted  to  provoke 
this  jealousy  by  the  frog  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  beast. 

The  third  frog  is  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  false  prophet.  To 
whom  does  that  appellation  in  proverbial  usage  apply,  but  to 
Mahomet?  I  am  aware  that  some  learned  writers  identify  the 
false  prophet  with  the  two-horned  beast  spoken  of  in  an  earlier 
part  of  Revelation,  but  this  may  at  least  be  questionable,  and 
the  argument  from  proverbial  usage  is  strong  on  the  other  side. 
This  frog  gathers  the  Turks,  the  most  distinguished  professors 
of  Mahometanism,  into  the  contest. 

Although  these  three  gatherings  correspond  remarkably  with 
three  of  the  chief  actors  in  the  drama,  the  gathering  is  not  li- 
mited to  them,  but  extends  to  the   ''kings  of  the  earth,''  which 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  13 

may  easily  be  understood  on  the  well-known  principle  that  a 
contest  once  begun  commonly  implicates  and  draws  in  various 
other  parties  besides  those  interested  in  the  original  cause  of  the 
quarrel.  The  plot  thickens,  and  thus  England,  though  not 
directly  instigated,  yet  in  some  insidious  way  acted  upon,  has 
been  early  and  deeply  engaged.  Her  motives  are  in  themselves 
high  and  honourable,  but,  nevertheless,  she  is  actually  involved 
in  a  struggle  which  has  sprung  from  the  instigation  of  the  spirits 
of  evil — autocratic  ambition,  Greek,  Roman,  and  Mahomedan 
superstitions.  That  Austria,  Prussia,  and  other  German  powers 
can  stand  much  longer  aloof  is  improbable.  Sardinia  is  already 
pledged.  Attempts  are  assiduously  made  to  enlist  other  nations, 
and,  ere  long,  we  may  see  the  kings  of  the  old  Roman  earth 
generally  gathered  to  the  battle  of  Armageddon. 

The  word  gathered  seems  to  have  its  own  significancy,  as  if 
the  nations  did  not  voluntarily  rush  into  war,  but  were  by 
mysterious  influence,  as  though,  "with  a  hook  in  their  nose  and 
a  bridle  in  their  lips,"  forced,  doubtless  for  the  punishment  of 
sin,  into  the  deadly  strife.  Russia  did  not  wish  for  war,  but 
sought  only  through  diplomatic  craft  and  intimidation  for  ag- 
grandizement. The  policy  of  the  Emperor  of  France  was  for 
various  reasons  pacific,  but  he  could  not  help  being  dragged  in. 
England  has  been  notoriously  taunted  with  her  reluctance  to 
engage.  Even  the  invasion  of  the  principalities,  an  indisputable 
casus  belli,  was  endured.  Turkey  deprecated  war  above  every- 
thing. Austria  and  Prussia  have  not  yet  come  in.  On  ail  sides 
every  nerve  was  strained  for  peace,  but  the  word  was  spoken, 
and  gathered  they  must  be  to  battle  at  Armageddon. 

It  is  the  habit,  not  only  of  men  of  the  world  and  of  the  poli- 
tical press,  but  even  of  many  serious  Christians,  to  turn  away 
from  prophecy  as  if  it  were  given  by  Revelation,  not  for  any 
real  use,  but  only  to  be  regarded  as  unintelligible  mystery. 
This  habit  conduces  to  the  Divine  purpose  of  causing  prophecy 
to  be  fulfilled  by  unconscious  nations,  but  it  does  not  discharge 
the  sincere  believer  from  the  duty  of  calm  investigation.  The 
prophet  Daniel  says,  in  speaking  of  these  last  times  in  which  we 
live,  "None  of  the  wicked  shall  understand,  but  the  wise  shall 
understand."     (Dan.  xii.  10.) 

Singly,  each  point  to  which  I  have  adverted  may  justly  be 
thought  inconclusive.  The  question  is,  what  weight  is  due  to 
the  accumulation  of  the  whole?  I  repeat  that  I  only  throw  out 
hints  to  aid  us  in  feeling  our  way;  but,  whatever  diffidence 
should,  in  the  present  state  of  things,  accompany  our  considera- 
2 


14  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

tion  of  the  subject,  it  cannot  be  otherwise  than  profitable,  if,  in 
thinking  of  the  sixth  vial,  we  imbibe  the  lesson  emphatically 
introduced  amid  the  description  of  its  woes:  ''Behold,  I  come 
as  a  thief;  blessed  is  he  that  watchcth,  and  keepeth  his  gar- 
ments, lest  he  walk  naked,  and  they  see  his  shame.  And  he 
gathered  them  together  into  a  place  called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue 
Armageddon.'^ 

It  is  remarked  that  Sebastopol  signifies  "the  city  of  Augustus." 
True,  but  this  does  not  prevent  it  from  signifying  also  "  the  Au- 
gust city.''  Even  if  the  word  be  translated  ''  the  city  of  Augus- 
tus," it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Augustus  was  not  properly 
the  name  of  the  celebrated  Roman  Emperor,  from  whom  it  has 
descended,  but  a  title  bestowed  upon  him  (Octavianus  Caesar) 
after  solemn  debate  by  the  Roman  Senate,  the  object  being  to 
dignify  that  illustrious  personage  by  the  most  appropriate  term 
that  body  could  employ.  In  this  view  Sebastopol  would  signify, 
not  in  a  dry  sense,  the  city  of  a  particular  man,  Octavianus^ 
but  the  city  of  one  designated  as  august  or  illustrious,  and  so  par- 
take in  the  meaning  of  that  epithet.  But,  in  truth,  the  \\  ord  is 
equivocal,  meaning  either  "the  city  of  Augustus"  or  "the  Au- 
gust city,"  and  we  know  how  constantly  Scripture  avails  itself 
of  double  or  equivocal  meanings  in  the  names  of  persons  or  places.  < 
The  prophet  Hosea  abounds  in  examples  of  this  sort.  As  Esau . 
asked  "Is  he  not  rightly  named  Jacob?"  I  may  ask,  "Is  it  not 
rightly  named  Sebastopol,"  seeing  it  is  the  illustrious  city — Ar- 
mageddon ? 

In  showing  that  the  pride  and  ambition  of  Russia  are  traceable 
to  the  instigation  of  a  frog  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Dragon,  the 
argument  would  have  perhaps  appeared  stronger,  had  I  remarked 
that,  although  Satanic  influence  undoubtedly  excites  various  sins 
in  human  nature,  yet  the  characteristic  sin  of  Satan  is  unques- 
tionably pride.  The  Apostle  says,  "Not  a  novice,  lest  being 
lifted  up  with  pride  he  fall  into  the  condemnation  of  the  devil," 
(1  Tim.  iii.  6,)  strongly  intimating  that  the  sin  which  caused 
Satan's  own  condemnation  was  pride.  With  this  would  harmo- 
nize the  other  remarks  above  made  upon  the  same  point. 

I  have  heard  the  criticism  to  the  effect  that  a  fourth  frog  was 
wanting  for  England,  who  was  so  early  in  the  fray.  But,  in 
answer  to  this,  let  me  observe,  that  the  Apocalypse  represents 
three  spirits  like  frogs  gathering  all  the  kings  of  the  earth,  which, 
being  many  more  than  three,  we  must  of  necessity  assign  to  the 
agency  of  each  frog  the  instigation  of  more  kingdoms  than  one. 
This  instigation  is  in  its  nature  dark,  sinuous  and  mysterious, 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  15 

and  we  may  not  be  able  to  trace  it  with  the  same  distinctness  in 
the  case  of  some  kingdoms  as  in  that  of  others.  With  respect 
to  England,  high  and  honourable  as  her  motives  have  been,  I 
am  afraid  we  cannot  acquit  her  of  national  liability  to  the  temp- 
tation of  pride.  As  a  Christian  man  I  have  often  been  shocked 
at  the  boastful  language  in  which  public  men  and  public  journals 
have  accustomed  themselves  to  speak  of  the  fall  of  Sebastopol. 
There  might  be  some  delay,  but,  with  them  it  was  a  mere  ques- 
tion of  time,  inasmuch  as  nothing  could  resist  the  troops  of  Eng- 
land. The  condition  of  our  gallant  army  at  the  present  hour  ap- 
pears to  rebuke  the  pride  of  this  vaunting.  G-od  teaches  us  that 
the  race  is  not  always  to  the  swift  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong. 
History  informs  us  that  Peter  the  Great,  at  the  commencement 
of  his  war  with  Charles  XII.  of  Sweden,  remarked,  that  though 
he  should  be  beaten  in  many  battles,  his  troops  would  learn  to 
conquer  at  last.  The  battle  of  Pultowa  verified  the  sagacity  of 
his  remark.  The  Russians  perhaps  excel  all  other  people  in  imi- 
tation, and  they  lose  no  opportunity  of  copying  all  our  improve- 
ments in  the  art  of  war.  They  have  shown  themselves  in  the 
present  struggle  equally  brave  and  persevering.  Indeed  God 
seems  to  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  all  the  combatants  to  fight  with 
marvellous  courage,  as  if  to  render  his  judgment  of  war  more 
than  usually  destructive.  He  has  added  pestilence,  hurricane 
and  almost  unheard  of  inclemency  of  weather;  and  seems,  as  it 
were,  to  have  smitten  with  judicial  blindness  those  who,  in  va-- 
rious  departments  of  the  British  service,  had  they  used  but  com- 
mon foresight  and  common  sense,  would  have  averted  many  of 
the  calamities  under  which  our  brave  army  has  been  melting 
away.  The  humiliation  resulting  from  incapacity,  weakness  and 
folly,  not  in  one  administrative  department,  but  in  many,  reflects 
but  the  stronger  light  on  the  pride  in  which,  as  a  nation,  we  have 
indulged.  Truly  we  ought  to  humble  ourselves  in  national  re- 
pentance and  supplication  before  Almighty  God,  but  the  per- 
formance of  even  this  duty,  though  called  for  by  the  dignitaries 
of  the  national  church,  and  urged  in  parliament  by  the  Duke  of 
Grafton  and  other  pious  men,  has  been  denied  by  the  ruling 
power  in  the  state. 

Some,  into  whose  hands  this  little  publication  may  fall  may  be 
aware  that  the  late  learned  Mr.  Faber  contended  strenuously  that 
the  beast  (Rev.  xiii.)  does  not  symbolize  the  papacy,  but  the 
Roman  Empire,  the  ten  regal  horns  describing  the  western  plat- 
form after  it  had  been  divided  and  occupied  by  the  ten  Gothic 
nations.     The  seventh  head  he  identifies  with  the  Emperorship 


16  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

of  the  1st  Napoleon,  and  this  he  considers  revived  under  the  pre- 
sent Emperor  of  the  French.  If  this  view  be  adopted,  it  makes 
no  essential  difference  in  my  argument.  The  frog  out  of  the 
mouth  of  the  beast,  whether  popish  or  imperial,  may  easily  be 
supposed  to  act  upon  France,  yea  rather  in  the  latter  case,  upon 
all  the  ten  kingdoms  to  be  successively  gathered  into  the  contest, 
which  makes  this  in  truth  a  very  comprehensive  frog. 

The  short  summary  of  the  arguments  contained  in  my  letter 
is  this: — If  Sebastopol  mean  the  same  as  Armageddon — if, 
on  independent  grounds,  the  present  period  be  that  of  the  sixth 
vial,  under  which  the  battle  of  Armageddon  is  to  be  fought — if 
the  same  event  is  to  take  place  in  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat, 
and  if  there  be  a  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  near  Sebastopol — if  the 
kings  of  the  earth  are  to  be  gathered  by  three  spirits  like  frogs 
to  this  battle,  and  a  corresponding  agency  be  at  work  in  the 
present  day — if  this  gathering  indicate  not  a  spontaneous  warfare, 
and  if  the  present  contest  has  been  entered  upon  most  reluctantly 
and  against  their  will,  by  the  kings  of  the  earth — then  each  one 
of  these  reasons  singlij,  and  still  more,  all  of  them  collectively 
and  cumulatively,  point  to  the  identity  above  suggested.  "  And 
he  gathered  them  into  a  place,  called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  Ar- 
mageddon."* 

I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant,  Daniel  Nihill, 

Jan.  19,  1855.  Rector  of  Fitzy,  Shrewsbury. 

In  corroboration  of  the  statement  contained  in  the  above  let- 
ter, I  extract  the  following  from  a  work  published  in  London 
last  year,  entitled,  "Turkey,  Russia,  The  Black  Sea,  and  Circas- 
sia,"  by  Captain  Spencer,  author  of  Travels  in  Europe,  Turkey,  &c. : 

"  Sebastopol,  like  Odessa,  was  a  miserable  Tartar  village  little 
more  than  sixty  years  ago.  About  that  time,  a  Frenchman  who 
happened  to  be  travelling  in  the  Crimea,  was  struck  with  the 
natural  advantages  of  a  position  which  he  at  once  saw,  if  properly 


*  Since  writing  the  above  the  author's  attention  has  been  called  to  the 
two  following  remarkable  coincidences.  In  Rev.  xiv.  17,  20,  is  a  pro- 
phecy of  the  gathering  of  "  the  clusters  of  the  vine  of  the  earth,"  and 
of  the  casting  of  them  "into  the  great  wine-press  of  the  wrath  op 
God." 

The  word  Crim,  in  the  Hebrew,  means  a  vineyard.  Again,  the  "  wine- 
press is  trodden  without  the  city,  and  blood  comes  out  of  the  wine- 
press, even  unto  the  horses'  bridles,  by  the  space  of  a  thousand  and  six- 
hundred  furlongs."  This,  he  is  informed,  is  the  exact  measure  of  the 
Crimea. 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  IT 

fortified,  might  be  made  one  of  the  first  naval  stations  in  the 
world.  On  his  return  to  St.  Petersburgh,  his  observations  to 
that  efiect  happening  to  reach  the  ears  of  the  Empress  Catharine, 
engineers  were  despatched  to  the  Crimea,  whose  report  confirmed 
that  of  the  stranger;  works  were  instantly  commenced;  but 
whether  through  intention  or  neglect,  the  name  of  the  French- 
man, the  author  of  so  valuable  a  suggestion,  never  transpired; 
and  from  that  time,  this  famous  stronghold  of  the  Russians  in 
the  Black  Sea  has  continued  to  increase  in  strength  and  impor- 
tance. The  principal  harbour,  called  the  Roads,  stretching  in- 
land to  a  length  of  four  miles,  is  so  capacious,  and  the  anchorage 
so  good,  that  the  fleets  of  nations  might  ride  in  it,  safe  from  every 
wind;  and  such  is  the  great  depth  of  water,  that  a  man-of-war 
of  the  largest  size  can  lie  within  a  cable's  length  of  the  shore. 

Besides  this,  there  are  five  other  small  bays,  branching  off  in 
various  directions,  equally  commodious;  and,  singular  enough, 
the  great  harbour,  together  with  the  small  bays,  are  all  lined  by 
a  continuation  of  capes,  strong  and  easily  defended,  as  if  formed 
by  the  hand  of  nature,  especially  for  a  naval  station. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  part  of  the  Crimea  so  interesting  for  its 
antiquities,  as  the  neighbourhood  of  Sebastopol.  The  bay  is  that 
described  by  Strabo  as  the  Ctenus;  and  the  Tartars  called  the 
little  town  they  inhabited  here  previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  Rus- 
sians, Atkiar,  (ancient,)  when  Catharine  II.  gave  it  the  pompous 
title  of  Sebastopol,  i.  e.,  (The  Illustrious. )'* 

The  following  very  valuable  information,  referred  to  in  some 
of  the  preceding  quotations,  is  extracted  from  the  Travels  of 
Edward  Daniel  Clark,  LL.  D.,  in  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa: — 

London,  1810. — In  describing  the  Crimea,  he  says,  chap.  19, 
vol.  1,  "We  came  to  the  lower  verge  of  some  steep  cliffs,  and 
beheld  on  the  summit  the  walls  of  Dschonfontkale.*  In  a  re- 
cess upon  our  right  hand,  appeared  the  cemetery  or  "field  of 
the  dead,"  belonging  to  the  Karaite  Jews.  Nothing  could  be 
more  calculated  to  inspire  holy  meditation.  It  was  a  beautiful 
grove,  filling  a  chasm  of  the  mountains,  rendered  dark  by  the 
shade  of  lofty  trees  and  over-hanging  rocks.  A  winding  path 
conducted  through  this  solemn  scene — several  tombs  of  white 
marble  presented  a  fine  contrast  to  the  deep  green  of  the  foliage, 
and  some  female  figures  in  white  vails  were  offering  pious  lamen- 

*  Dsclionfont  is  a  name  originally  of  reproach  bestowed  upon  the 
Jews,  and  kale,  signifies  a  fortress. 

9* 


18  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON  ? 

tations  over  the  graves.  An  evening  or  a  morning  visit  to 
the  sepulchres  of  their  departed  friends,  is,  perhaps,  the  only 
airing  in  which  the  Jewish  women  indulge  themselves,  as  they 
seldom  leave  their  houses;  and  in  this  respect  their  customs  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  Tartars  and  Turks.* 

The  ascent  from  the  cemetery  to  the  fortress,  although  short, 
was  so  steep,  that  we  were  forced  to  alight  from  our  horses  and 
actually  climb  to  the  gateway.  Several  slaves,  however,  busied  in 
conveying  water  upon  the  backs  of  asses,  passed  us  in  their  way 
up.  The  spring  which  supplied  them  is  below  in  the  defile;  and 
a  very  copious  reservoir,  cut  in  the  rocks  above,  is  prepared  for 
the  use  of  the  colony.  As  we  passed  the  gateway  and  entered 
the  town,  we  were  met  by  several  of  the  inhabitants.  Colonel 
Dunant  inquired  for  a  Jew  of  his  acquaintance,  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal people  of  the  place.  We  were  conducted  to  his  house,  and 
we  found  him  at  noon  sleeping  on  his  divan.  He  arose  to  re- 
ceive us,  and  presently  regaled  us  with  various  sorts  of  confec- 
tionary, among  which  were  conserved  leaves  of  roses,  and  pre- 
served walnuts :  also  eggs,  cheese,  cold  pies  and  brandy.  A  mes- 
senger was  despatched  for  the  Rabbi,  whom  he  invited  to  meet 
us,  and  who  soon  after  made  his  appearance.  This  man  was  held 
in  very  high  consideration  by  them  all,  and  with  good  reason; 
for  he  was  exceedingly  well  informed,  and  had  passed  a  public 
examination  with  distinguished  honours  in  St.  Petersburgh. 
After  being  sent  for  expressly  by  the  Empress  Catharine,  we  were 
highly  interested  by  their  conversation,  as  well  as  by  the  singu- 
larity of  having  found  one  Jewish  settlement,  perhaps  the  only  one 
upon  earth,  where  that  people  exist  secluded  from  the  rest  of  man- 
kind, in  the  free  exercise  of  their  ancient  customs  and  peculiarities. 
The  town  contains  about  twelve  hundred  persons  of  both  sexes, 
and  not  more  than  two  hundred  houses.  The  principal  part  of 
each  dwelling  belongs  to  the  women ;  but  every  master  of  a  family 
has  his  own  private  apartments,  where  he  sleeps,  smokes,  and  re- 
ceives his  friends.     The  room  in  which  we  were  entertained  was 


*  <'This  little  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  is  so  liighly  valued  by  the  Jews, 
that  -whenever  the  ancient  Khans  wished  to  extort  from  them  a  present, 
or  to  raise  a  voluntary  contribution,  it  was  sufficient  to  threaten  them 
with  the  extirpation  of  these  sacked  trees,  under  the  plausible  pretence 
of  wanting  fuel  or  timber."     Pallises'  Travels,  vol.  2,  p.  35. 

The  reader  may  find  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  accurately  laid  down 
in  a  map  lately  published  by  the  British  Government  for  the  use  of  the 
staff  and  officers  of  the  allied  armies  and  government,  by  Major  Thomas 
Best  Jervis,  F.  R.  S.,  of  the  corps  of  engineers,  E,  I.  S. 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  10 

of  this  description :  it  was  filled  with  manuscripts,  many  in  the 
hand-writing  of  our  host,  others  by  those  of  his  children;  and 
all  in  very  beautiful  Hebrew  characters.  The  Karaites  deem  it 
an  act  of  piety  to  copy  the  Bible,  or  copious  commentaries  upon 
its  texts,  once  in  their  lives.  All  their  manuscript  copies  of  the 
Old  Testament  began  with  the  book  of  Joshua;  and  even  the  most 
ancient  did  not  contain  the  Pentateuch;  that  part  of  the  Bible 
being  kept  apart;  but  only  in  a  printed  version  for  the  use  of 
schools.  The  reason  given  by  the  Rabbi  for  the  omission  of  the 
books  of  Moses,  in  their  manuscript  copies,  was,  that  the  Penta- 
teuch being  in  constant  use  for  the  instruction  of  their  children, 
it  was  reserved  apart,  that  the  whole  volume  might  not  })e  liable 
to  the  injuries  it  would  thus  sustain.  In  the  synagogues,  with 
the  exception  of  the  books  of  Moses  everything  was  in  manu- 
script. The  Rabbi  asked  if  we  had  any  of  the  Karaite  sect  in 
England,  a  question  we  could  not  answer.  He  said  there  were 
a  few  in  Holland;  and  I  believe,  as  a  sect,  it  is  very  rare.  These 
Jews  call  themselves  Karai.  The  etymology  of  the  name  is 
uncertain.  The  difference  between  their  creed  and  that  of  Jews 
in  general,  according  to  the  information  received  from  the  Rabbi, 
consists  in  a  rejection  of  the  Talmud,  a  disregard  to  every  kind 
of  tradition,  to  all  Rabbinical  writings  or  opinions,  all  marginal 
interpolations  of  the  text  of  scripture;  and  in  a  measure,  of  their 
rule  of  faith  by  the  pure  letter  of  the  law.  They  professed  to 
have  the  text  of  the  Old  Testament  scriptures  in  its  most  genuine 
state.  The  character  of  the  Karaite  Jews  is  directly  opposite 
to  that  which  is  generally  attributed  to  their  brethren  in  other 
countries,  being  altogether  without  reproach.  Their  honesty  is 
proverbial  in  the  Crimea;  and  the  word  of  a  Karaite  is  considered 
equal  to  a  bond.*  Almost  all  of  them  are  engaged  in  trade  or 
manufacture.  They  observe  their  fasts  with  the  most  scrupu- 
lous rigour,  abstaining  even  from  snuff  and  smoking  for  twenty- 
four  hours  together.  In  the  very  earliest  period  of  Jewish  his- 
tory, this  sect  separated  from  the  main  stem :  this,  at  least,  is  their 
own  account ;  and  nothing  concerning  them  ought  to  be  received 
from  Rabbinists  who  hold  them  in  detestation.  For  this  reason 
the  relations  of  Leo  of  Modeno,  a  Rabbi  of  Venice,  are  not  to  be 
admitted.  Their  schism  is  said  to  be  as  old  as  the  return  from 
the  Babylonish  captivity.     They  use  very  extraordinary  care  in 


*Are  they  not  the  elect  remnant  which  God  has  thus  wonderfully  pre- 
served, as  he  did  the  seven  thousand  men  in  the  days  of  Elijah  the  Pro- 
phet?— Eom.  xi.  4,  5.  , 


20  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

the  education  of  their  children,  who  are  taught  publicly  in  the 
synagogues.  The  dress  of  the  Karaites  differs  little  from  that 
worn  by  the  Tartars  :  all  of  them,  of  whatever  age,  suffer  their 
beards  to  grow.  They  receive  no  other  Jews  into  their  com- 
munity escept  the  Polish  Karaites,  who,  like  themselves,  reject 
the  Talmud. 

From  this  interesting  colony  we  returned  by  a  different  road, 
along  the  tops  of  the  mountains  to  Baktcheserai,  (signifying  a 
palace  situated  in  a  garden.) 

The  evening  after  we  descended  from  the  fortress  belonging  to 
the  Jewish  colony,  we  left  Baktcheserai,  and  reached  the  great 
bay  of  Aktiar,  upon  which  place  the  Russians  in  the  time  of 
Catharine  the  Second,  bestowed  the  fantastic  name  of  Sebastopol. 
The  great  bay  of  Aktiar  also  bears  the  name  of  the  Roads;  and 
here  the  Russian  fleet  is  frequently  at  anchor.  It  is  the  Ctenus 
of  Strabo,  the  harbour  upon  which  the  town  of  Aktiar  was 
built,  about  1790,  has  been  appropriated  to  the  reception  of  Rus- 
sian ships  of  war.  The  fleets  of  the  world  might  here  ride  se- 
cure, and  have  convenient  anchorage  in  the  great  harbour.  Ves- 
sels find  from  twenty-one  to  seventy-five  feet  depth  of  water,  and 
good  anchorage.  To  the  Russian  navy  it  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant possessions,  yet  such  was  the  surprising  ignorance  or 
carelessness  of  their  government,  that  for  some  time  after  the 
capture  of  the  Crimea  the  advantages  of  this  place  were  not  dis- 
covered. The  plan  of  the  harbour  somewhat  resembles  that  of 
Malta.  Had  the  English  fleet  made  a  visit  to  Aktiar  during 
the  expedition  to  Egypt;  and  which  I  have  reason  to  believe  was 
a  part  of  the  instructions  given  to  the  commander  in  chief,  they 
might  have  struck  a  blow  which  would  have  prevented  all  the 
subsequent  treachery  experienced  from  Russia,  almost  without 
firing  a  gun ;  such  was,  at  that  time,  the  state  of  the  Peninsula. 
I  presented  both  to  the  British  Ambassador  in  Constantinople, 
and  to  Lord  Keith  an  accurate  survey  of  the  coast,  with  all  the 
soundings  in  the  port  of  Aktiar,  and  the  entrance  to  the  roads; 
as  well  as  the  situation  and  quality  of  the  magazines,  artillery, 
and  store-houses.  This  document  was  confided  to  my  care  by 
one  who  wished  well  to  the  British  interests;  and  I  brought  it 
from  the  Crimea  at  the  hazard  of  my  life.*  Such  a  stroke  at  that 
time  had  been  amply  merited  on  the  part  of  Russia;  but  the  af- 
fairs in  Egypt  did  not  terminate  soon  enough  to  allow  its  being 
carried  into  effect, — I  have  therefore  deposited  the  papers  in  the 
admiralty  office.    The  natural  advantages  of  the  harbour  are  truly 

*  This  map  has  recently  been  published  in  London. 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON?  21 

surprising;  and  the  largest  vessels  lie  within  a  cable's  length  of  the 
shore.  The  harbour  is  divided  into  three  coves,  affording  shelter 
in  every  wind,  and  favourable  situations  for  repairs,  building,  &c. 

Is  it  not  truly  by  nature  as  well  as  hj  artj  '■'■the  illustrious 
city^^ — the  Sehastopol — the  Armageddon? 

It  has  been  urged  as  an  objection  by  some  persons,  that  the 
Hebrew  word  Armageddon  admits  of  another  rendering  than 
that  of  Sebastopol,  or  the  Illustrious  City,  as  it  may  be  written 
in  the  Hebrew,  Har-megiddon,  and  when  thus  written  the  He- 
brew word  meged  means  costly  or  precious  fruits;  the  word  occurs 
in  Deut.  xxxiii.  13,  14,  15,  16,  verses,  where  it  is  rendered  by 
the  words  "precious  fruits,''  and  "  precious  things."  The 
simple  meaning  of  the  word  according  to  this  analysis  of  it  is, 
"  THE  mountain  OF  PRECIOUS  FRUITS."  The  locality  of  Arma- 
geddon must,  therefore,  be  determined  in  accordance  with  this 
definition.  If  we  can,  then,  only  succeed  in  proving  this 
"  mountain  of  precious  FRUITS,"  to  be  in  the  Crimea,  surely 
we  shall  then  have  gained  a  knowledge  sufficient  to  convince 
even  "a  Thomas"  where  "the  battle  of  that  great  day  of  God 
Almighty"  is  to  be  fought.  The  following  extracts  from  a  work 
just  published,  entitled  "An  Historical  Account  of  the  Crimea," 
&c.,  by  W.  B.  Barker,  Esq.,  M.  R.  A.  S.,  for  many  years  resi- 
dent in  Turkey,  in  an  official  capacity,  will  speak  for  themselves. 

"The  Crimea  from  remote  times  has  been  considered  as  the 
storehouse  and  granary  of  the  neighbouring  countries.  The 
Greeks  drew  thence  almost  inexhaustible  supplies  of  corn.  In 
the  time  of  Leucon,  King  of  Bosporus,  the  exports  of  corn  to 
Athens  alone  amounted  to  2,100,000  medimni;  *  and,  accord- 
ing to  Demosthenes,  the  imports  from  the  Chersoncsus  alone  ex- 
ceeded those  from  all  other  countries.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  soil  makes  a  grateful  return  for  the  trifling  cultivation 
it  receives  from  the  Tartar  inhabitants  of  our  own  times.  Even 
so  recently  as  forty  or  fifty  years  ago,  the  Tartars  were  in  the 
habit  of  keeping  large  stores  of  grain  in  pits,  protected  against 
the  attacks  of  vermin  by  being  lined  with  a  dry  clayey  marl  hard- 
ened by  fire. 

"  The  plough  in  use,  as  well  indeed  as  all  other  implements  of 
husbandry,  is  of  the  most  primitive  construction.  It  is  usually 
drawn  by  oxen,  and  sometimes  by  as  many  as  three  yoke; 
but  as  few  Tartar  farmers  possess  more  than  one  yoke,  they 
club  together  their  resources,  and  thus  plough  each  others' 
land.     Buffaloes  are  used  in  the  mountainous  districts,  where 

» 

*  In  round  numbers,  neai-lj  400,000  quarters. 


22  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON? 

the  soil  is  much  harder  than  in  the  plains.  The  choice  of 
crops  is  very  lar^e,  and  includes  many  species  of  wheat,  of  rye, 
and  of  barley,  millet,  maize,  peas,  oats,  flax  and  tobacco.  The 
vine  is  extensively  cultivated,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  the 
country  might,  by  judicious  treatment,  be  fitted  for  the  production 
of  first-class  wines.  Vineyards  abound  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
all  the  rivers,  more  especially  on  the  banks  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Katcha,  the  Alma,  and  the  Belbek.*  The  principal  ob- 
stacle to  the  cultivation  of  the  vine  as  a  branch  of  agriculture, 
is  the  cost;  for  the  Tartar  race  is  not  fond  of  labour,  and,  least 
of  all,  of  continuous  labour;  so  that  those  who  are  willing  to  work 
always  command  comparatively  high  wages.  The  Crimea  pos- 
sesses almost  all  the  ordinary  European  fruits,  besides  many 
which  Europeans  esteem  luxuries;  and  melons,  apples,  and  cher- 
ries are  as  abundant  as  blackberries  in  the  hedges  of  England, 
in  September." 

"The  mountains  which  run  from  east  to  west  from  Soudak 
and  by  the  coast  to  Kouchouk-koi,  enclose  and  shelter — from 
every  wind  but  that  which  blows  from  the  South — a  narrow  strip 
of  land,  the  climate  of  which  is  so  mild,  the  skies  so  fair,  and 
the  soil  so  productive,  that  it  may  be  denominated  the  Naples  of 
Russia,  f 

''The  climate  of  the  Crimea  is  not  unfavourable  to  health. 
There  are,  indeed,  spots  here,  as  in  almost  every  country,  wher^ 
the  nature  of  the  soil  and  the  character  of  the  vegetation  occa- 
sions the  formation  of  marshes,  which  are  the  fruitful  sources  of 
malaria  and  fever.  Generally,  however,  it  is  not  so.  All  the 
advantages  of  diversity  of  scenery,  of  plain  and  of  mountain, 
which  serve  to  temper  climate,  are  here  enjoyed;  and  the  warmth 
of  the  torrid  is  combined  with  the  cool  zephyrs  of  the  temperate 
zone.     The  winter  is  short.     Late  in  November  it  is  still  warm, 

^  "  It  was  while  passing  these  rivers  in  the  celebrated  flank-march 
from  the  Alma  to  Balaklava,  that  the  soldiers  of  the  allied  army,  jaded 
and  worn,  entered  the  vineyards  through  which  their  route  lay ;  and  in- 
dulging too  liberally  in  the  rich  fruit  of  the  vine,  became  early  sufferers 
from  the  painful  and  debilitating  maladies  to  which  the  stranger  who 
spends  an  autumn  in  the  Crimea  is,  at  all  times,  and  under  the  most  fa- 
vourable circumstances,  liable." 

■f  "If  there  exists  a  spot,"  says  Dr.  Clarke,  "which  maybe  desciubed 
as  a  terrestrial  paradise,  it  is  that  which  intervenes  between  Kiitchiickoy 
and  Sudak.  Protected  by  encircling  Alps  from  every  cold  and  blight- 
ing wind,  and  only  open  to  those  breezes  which  are  wafted  across  the  sea 
from  the  south,  the  inhabitants  enjoy  every  advantage  of  climate  and 
situation.     From  the  Aountains  continual  streams  of  crystal  water  pour 


IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARMAGEDDON  ?  23 

and  early  in  February  the  land  begins  to  smile  in  all  the  rich 
verdure  of  spring."  I  would  also  refer  the  reader,  for  a  further 
description  of  this  interesting  country,  to  the  Encyclopedia  of 
Geography,  by  Hugh  Murray,  F.R.S.E.,  1840. 

And  now,  before  closing,  I  would  say,  let  every  one  examine 
this  important  subject  for  himself,  in  the  light  of  that  solemn 
day,  which  these  scenes  will  soon,  very  soon,  introduce,  and  be 
fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind,  whether  this  application  is 
in  accordance  with  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  or  not.  If  this 
description  does  not  answer  to  the  prophecy,  when  or  where  are 
we  to  look  for  its  fulfilment?  where  are  we  to  locate  Armaged- 
don ?  Does  it  not  appear  from  the  evidence  presented  in 
these  pages  that  Grod  has  designed  to  make  the  fulfilment  of  this 
important  prophecy  so  very  plain,  that  a  child  might  understand 
it,  and  the  evidence  so  overwhelming  in  its  character,  that  the 
weakest  in  faith^ight  not  have  any  cause  to  doubt? 

We  have  seen  that  the  word  Armageddon  may  with  great 
propriety  be  rendered  Sebastopol  and  that  Sebastopol  is  in- 
deed WONDERFULLY  ENTITLED  tO  be  called  '^ThE  ILLUSTRIOUS 

City,"  not  only  by  the  natural  advantages  of  its  position,  for  it 
appears  that  even  nature  has,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  made  it  a 
stronghold;  but  the  natural  advantages  of  the  situation  having 
been  improved  by  all  that  engineering  and  military  skill  could 
suggest,  the  result  has  been,  the  construction  of  one  of  the 
most  stupendous  fortresses  in  the  world, — a  fortress  which  has 
for  nearly  twelve  months  defied  the  mighty  efi"orts — efforts  with- 
out any  parallel  in  the  history  of  sieges,"^ — of  the  two  greatest 
militarya  nd  naval  nations  in  the  world,  and  that,  too,  assisted 

down  upon  their  gardens,  in  which  every  species  of  fruit  known  in  the 
East  of  Europe,  and  many  that  are  not,  attain  the  highest  perfection. 
Neither  unwholesome  exhalations,  nor  chilling  winds,  nor  venomous  in- 
sects, nor  poisonous,  reptiles,  nor  hostile  neighbours,  infest  this  blissful 
territory.  The  life  of  its  inhabitants  resembles  that  of  the  Golden  Age. 
The  soil,  like  a  hot-bed,  rapidly  puts  forth  such  a  variety  of  spontaneous 
produce  that  labour  becomes  merely  an  amusing  exercise.  Peace  and 
plenty  crown  their  board;  while  the  repose  they  so  much  admire  is  only 
interrupted  by  harmless  thunder  reverberating  in  the  rocks  above  them, 
or  by  the  murmur  of  waves  upon  the  beach  below." 

*  The  cost  of  bombakding  Sebastopol. — The  bombardment  of  Se- 
bastopol continued  for  thirteen  days,  pouring  an  incessant  fire  upon  the 
town,  and  according  to  the  English  advices,  making  a  steady  progress 
against  the  works,  though  Gortschakoff's  report,  the  latest,  says  the  Al- 
lies' fire  was  slackening.  The  iron  shot  fired  into  Sebastopol  exceeded 
any  thing  of  the  kind  that  the  annals  of  war  have  ever  recorded.     Five 


24  IS  SEBASTOPOL  ARxMAGEDDON? 

by  the  choicest  forces  of  Turkey  and  Sardinia,  and  thus  far 
laughed  to  scorn  the  most  powerful  ordnance  that  ever  rent  the 
welkin  with  its  thunders.  And  we  have  also  seen  that  the  Cri- 
mea is  a  ^'  MOUNTAIN  OF  PRECIOUS  FRUITS."  And  now  in  con- 
clusion I  would  ask,  If  the  City  and  the  Country  to  which  the 
kings  of  the  earth  are  now  gathering  their  mighty  armies  so 
wonderfully  answers  to  the  description  of  the  prophecy,  have  we 
not  abundant  reason  to  express  ourselves  with  a  strong  degree 
of  confidence,  that  the  end  is  near,  emphatically  near,  that  we 
have  discovered  without  any  doubt  the  locality  of  Armageddon, 
and  that  now  it  is  our  duty  to  listen  to  and  obey  the  solemn  ad- 
monition, ^'Behold  I  come  as  a  thief;  blessed  is  he  that  watch- 
eth."  ''He  that  testifieth  these  things  saith,  Surely  I  come 
quicMy.  Amen.  Even  so,  come.  Lord  Jesus.  The  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  you  all.  Amen." 

hundred  guns,  firing  one  hundred  and  twenty  rounds  a  day,  gives  a  total 
of  sixty  thousand  rounds,  which  may  well  be  teinned  an  "infernal  fire," 
as  Gortschakoff  called  it.  It  is  estimated  that  the  amount  of  shot  fired 
in  the  thirteen  days  of  the  bombardment  by  the  allies,  equalled  thirty- 
five  millions  one  hundred  thousand  pounds,  which  would  cost,  not  in- 
cluding the  transportation  and  the  powder,  $313,380.  The  powder 
would  cost  $702,000,  making  a  total  of  over  a  million  dollars.  This,  if 
it  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  place,  would  be  cheap,  but  the  Corres- 
pondent of  the  London  Times,  who  was  a  spectator  of  the  bombardment; 
says,  in  his  last  letter,  "we  are  not  one  inch  nearer  the  town  thanvWe 
were  last  October." 

Immense  expenditure  of  ammunition  at  Sebastopol. — During  the 
first  week  of  the  bombardment,  the  English  trenches  alone  fired  away 
between  15,000  and  17,000  thirty-two  and  sixty-eight  pound  shot  and 
shell;  7,800  thirteen-inch  shells;  and  4,500  ten-inch  shells,  making  in 
all  about  2,200  tons  of  shot,  and  500  tons  of  powder.  The  English 
trenches  mounted  on  the  15th,  104  guns  and  mortars;  the  French  230; 
so  that  daring  the  first  week's  bombardment  about  6,000  tons  of  shot 
and  shell,  and  1,500  tons  of  powder  were  expended. 

The  Paris  Correspondent  of  the  London  ^mes,  writing  on  May  1st,  ob- 
serves:— "I  am  informed  on  good  authority  that  ammunition  to  an  enor- 
mous amount  has  been  sent  to  the  Crimea,  and  is  still  sent  without  in- 
termission; and  with  the  reinforcements,  it  is  calculated  that  the  total 
force,  including  the  Sardinian  contingent  and  the  reserves  at  Constanti- 
nople, will  be  little,  if  at  all,  short  of  200,000.  Such  an  army — the 
greater  part  composed  of  French  and  English — ought  to  be  able  to  do 
any  thing  and  go  any  where." 

For  nineteen  consecutive  days  the  bombardment  was  maintained  with 
unexampled  vigour  and  violence.  Prince  Gortschakoff's  official  report 
says,  that  in  one  day,  20,000  shot  and  shell  were  thrown  into  the  fort- 
ress'. In  one  week  twelve  million  pounds  of  iron  were  hurled  upon  the 
besieged.  Yet  in  spite  -of  all  former  experience,  as  it  is  without  a  paral- 
lel in  the  history  of  sieges,  the  Russian  artillery  could  not  be  silenced.  ^ 


PAMPHLET  BINDER 

^iilir   Syracuse,  N.   Y. 
Z:;^    Stockfon,  Colif. 


BS2827  .173 

Is  Sebastopol  Armageddon?  :  a  short 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00071   7316 


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